Dressing up someone in a DIY or real astronaut get up and placing them in banal settings... is stating to become a bit cliche isn't it? All the galleries are filled with the same schtick. How is this one unique?

I could not agree more. In so many cases it has become "schtick". Bizarre has become art. Some have found the portraits in the inventors news thread "boring". Had the photographer dipped the subjects in mayonnaise and rolled them in breadcrumbs the fine tuned DPR artsy crowd would be raving about the "original concept".

I don't mind the concept, only that I've seen the very same thing countless times over the last 10 years, ie. a guy I know did it, only took photos of himself in the space getup hiking around west Texas with tumbleweeds, I saw 2 shows of the space suit photo gag, meme, a year ago in NY. Have seem several online aped versions as well.

My point is that it was a cool idea the first half dozen times I saw it. Now, it's getting a bit cliche.

sob moan whine complain....Am I in the right place? Oh yes, this is the thread where cynics and NegativeNancies congregate to poison artistic expression for no reason! There you are mcshan! I thought I'd find you here; just your style! sob moan whine complain....

All photography is "Unique" in nature. Try to recreate ANY photo EVER taken and I will show you the difference in lighting, angle, exposure etc. This photographer is creating images worth looking at, and calling someone out on "being Cliche" is, well, a bit "Cliche" in my humble opinion. I would like to see your "unique" gallery. Out of curiosity, have you ever taken a photo of a landscape, an animal, something product related? Or are all of your photo's so new to the game that no one can simply comprehend how you managed to come up with something so original? I am not all saying that your opinion is not valid, but "unique" in photography, well that is a very loose term. Let's just appreciate the effort that this photographer is putting in, as the lighting, composition and subject matter are all very well done.

... Which is disqualifying how, exactly, if one talks about looks even outside of the point that Yuri's the genuine article? Nations arbitrarily chose different terms for the same profession - surely we're not disqualifying anyone based on nationality?

It is a bit disconnected here because it is a random pick from the album. You should visit the original site on imgur because he kind of go by the day in life meme from morning to night and it makes a bit more sense as a complete album.

At first it did for me. It said astronaut and it did say space suite - and I saw none. So - I got disappointed. Then I thought. He is just playing around having fun. And - photos of someone playing around having fun - no problems with that.

Then you would be wrong (or merely trolling). Clint's initial post was trolling. Reread these posts starting with Chris and Clint's response. If you are going to be the self appointed "trolling sheriff" at least get it right. You have accused two people of trolling just after Chris' post. Below is the trolling post by Clint that started it and you missed it:

"Ya know Chris....this 'pointless exercise' produced more interesting photos than what you've got on your website...Boom! Ya...I went there."

Trolling Sheriff... I like that! I'm honored by your appointment. As sheriff, I herby charge you... mcshan... for the crime of lame comments, idiotic arguments and boring me with retarded trolling. I herby sentence you to banishment!!! ...i'm bored with you

These photos were originally posted to Reddit and contain some hidden shoutouts to Reddit in the form of their mascot (Snoo) hidden in the photos, as well as a lot of Space history Easter eggs. See http://www.reddit.com/r/space/comments/26lo3a/after_months_of_shooting_i_finally_finished_my/chs8sp5 for a list discussing the hidden things!

The photos are kind of 80's schticky. I think the idea is great -- if he had photos of himself in the suit walking in a crowd of people commuting to work -- but taken straightforward, or a photo at the breakfast table with his family, he in the suit with the family members dressed normally, or a wedding photo with him in the suit and the bride in gown and he's looking out a nearby window -- that kind of thing -- that to me would have taken the idea to a better place. Of the series, the shot on the playground shuttle was the one I liked best -- but he didn't need to have the shuttle touching ground -- just him sitting on the shuttle leaving the viewer to provide the story would have been enough. And before anyone goes ape on their keyboard believing there's something on the internet that needs immediate fixing -- this is just my humble opinion -- albeit one reflecting 30 years as a pro.

We all love a pro telling us what to like or not...the whole idea is being funny and creative. Remember being young and creative?Probably not, and being "30 years as a pro" means we should take you seriously? Have a nice day pro!

@DanPerhaps you should buy a space suite and take the shots you suggest... The idea would not be original though. Then we could all judge if your "30 years as a pro" would translate into a better job. This is also just my humble opinion too.

Well, Dpreview wants new articles to increase viewership and revenue, and there is a plenitude of subject matter that qualifies, however the production values and content need to be stepped up. First two replies to me are substance less. My background shooting conceptual assignments for ads and publications qualify my comments. And this style was often done in the early 80's -- it was schticky then and it still is. I also don't like the lighting -- and if it were a real space suit and not an orange high altitude suit, visually that would be a bit better. Whatever.

In my 20 years experience reading stuff on the Internet, "my humble opinion" usually means "I'm too lazy to edit the previous paragraph to disguise my arrogance with more diplomatic words." Just in my humble opinion, of course.

Dan, your ideas are seen everyday on TV, they're overdone and mundane. If I wanted to see that, I'd youtube some ads. But because this series isn't an advertisement, your comments and opinions are rather baseless.... That's just my humble opinion of course.

If you have to justify your "humble" opinion by saying you have 30 years as a pro (not such a humble statement is it) then your opinion carries less weight. Someone can consider themselves a pro driver because they delivered pizzas for 30 years, but how do they drive on a race track?

That being said, I also like the playground photo. I do like that it is touching the ground as it gives it a feel of unrequited longing to return to space, or maybe he never went to space and realizes this is the closest he will get.

@Dan - Personally I loved this set (being new to photography as a hobby rather than just a simple record of family events) I haven't had much exposure to this sort of thing and hence probably haven't been as bored by it as you seem to be.

Specifically I feel that the position of the shuttle is important, to me it puts emphasis on the comedy sadness in the album of a dream never realised.